Newsletter Archive

She is ‘nonna’ in Italian, ‘abuelita’ in Spanish, and ‘grandma’ in English. But across cultures, the idea of a grandmother — as a family matriarch and keeper of tradition — is often the same. In an ethnically diverse Boston neighborhood, a new mural pays tribute to these formidable women — and highlights the values immigrants share across ethnic lines.

Hairdressers in Pakistan have banned trimming stylish beards like goatees or so-called French beards, calling the cuts un-Islamic. There is a growing trend among Pakistani youths to wear stylish beards. The KP Hairdressers Association says it consulted with religious scholars before reaching the decision to stop tending to the trendy facial hair.

Not sure how something will look on you? Try it on — virtually. Call it the Snapchat effect. But instead of putting dog ears or sparkly rainbow tongues on photos, smart mirrors let consumers try things on virtually, anything from lipstick shades and eyeglasses to earrings. Retailers hope smart mirrors will tempt people back into stores with virtual try-ons that allow customers to sample many more products than they’d be able to try on otherwise.

VIDEO EXPLAINER: While it’s easy to post and spread fake news, it’s much harder to spot misinformation. But there are certain warning signs that can help flag what’s real and what’s fake. Here are some pointers on how to identify a bogus post.

Eritrea’s secret prison system is in the spotlight after reported death of an Eritrean political prisoner. Some of the nation’s founders have been held without trial for more than 16 years. There’s been no confirmation that Haile “Durue” Woldensae, a fighter in Eritrea’s liberation struggle and the country’s former foreign minister, is dead, but his brother tells VOA that family members have accepted that they probably will not see him again.

They might enjoy drinking coffee, but Kenya’s younger generation isn’t that into producing it. Since the 1980s, Kenya’s coffee production has dropped by two-thirds, a decrease that’s partially driven by the lack of interest in farming on the part of younger Kenyans. Will they wake up and smell the benefits of coffee farming before Kenya runs out of coffee farmers?

VIDEO: With a coffee shop, sewing machines and 3D printers for patrons, Washington, DC’s newest public library is a departure from most facilities of its kind. There are still plenty of books, but there’s also no shhh-ing allowed as the city turns places where people once went only to read books into community gathering places. Another departure from the norm is the way the innovative facility was funded and built, which makes it a not-so-public library.